Aaron Holland Fine Art

This is an imaginary scene that takes place in Whitefish Dunes State Park, overlooking Lake Michigan. By imaginary, I mean to say that it was created, and the models were posed, specifically for this painting; to illustrate a concept.

(detail)-W.C. on Rag- 18x24"- HOLLAND

painting by Paul Strisik

"Consider Literature: Not being a writer, I might need ten pages to describe Rockport Harbor. I'd list all the details of the scene and hope that these pieces would give the reader a sense of the place. Tolstoy, on the other hand, could do the same thing in a paragraph. He would describe only the characteristic aspects of the scene. We don't expect him to tell us everything; if he did, we'd find his writing tiresome.

...the writer's statement will be more effective [ if ] its personal.

When you paint things exactly as they are, you don't show people anything they couldn't see for themselves; you're telling them what they already know. The viewer, however...wants you to help them. As Charles Hawthorne said years ago, the painter 'must show people more- more than they already see, and he must do so with so much sympathy and understanding that they will recognize it as if they themselves had seen the beauty and the glory.'."

Paul Strisik

(from his book "Capturing Light in Oils")

This bustling little harbor in northerly Ephraim was resplendant with wind-surfers, beach-goers, and vacationers. My wife Deb dropped me off near the beach so that she and Emma (our 19 mo. old) could go have an ice cream at Wilson's while I sketched.

I was fortunate to be able to find a small place to set up that was "relatively quiet". Although there was still the small boy who found it enjoyable to run all around me and jump from rock to rock, and visitors standing behind me that seemed to come out of nowhere, and about fifty people lounging on the beach just next to me, I acted all the while as if it was the most natural thing in the world to be seated amongst all the chaos!

I have noticed that the artist who sets up out-of-doors has become 'public domain', and would do well to resign themselves to this idea. People do not seem to feel it is necessary to introduce themselves, or even say hello, but start midstream into their thoughts about the world. It is also interesting because many of the people I meet talk as if we have known each other for years. It is an interesting phenomena, and mostly enjoyable... but I come home a little more exhausted than usual!

"Evening Waters"

oil on linen, 8x10" HOLLAND

Spring looks warm, but feels cold. My hands were pretty cold when I finished the picture this morning. I dressed for a sunny, spring day...hmmm... that was a bit optomistic I think, in hindsight (temp= 42 degrees F.) At least it wasn't windy!

At any rate it is always a pleasure to get outside and soak up the sun, and at least it was sunny. We have been known to go to a local cafe nearby and have a hot cup of coffee and a delicious meal afterwards- it is a reward! Today was no different.

"Study direct from nature. Study to feel, to know something of her visible functionings. Nature, to the thoughtful, will always remain a vast and delightful storehouse, [a] fountain of inspiration...It is the artist's privelege and prerogative to capture these miracles and transmute them into an expressive form."

-John F. Carlson

(from his book Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting)